s, whence they
could waylay the gold ships in the Bahama Channel? Or was the expedition
destined against the Spanish settlements of the islands or the Main?
Reinforcements were despatched in haste, and a spy was sent to France,
who, passing from port to port, Quimper, St. Malo, Brest, Morlaix, came
back freighted with exaggerated tales of preparation. The Council of the
Indies was called. "The French are bound for Baccalaos,"--such was
the substance of their report; "your Majesty will do well to send two
caravels to watch their movements, and a force to take possession of the
said country. And since there is no other money to pay for it, the gold
from Peru, now at Panama, might be used to that end." The Cardinal of
Seville thought lightly of the danger, and prophesied that the French
would reap nothing from their enterprise but disappointment and loss.
The King of Portugal, sole acknowledged partner with Spain in the
ownership of the New World, was invited by the Spanish ambassador to
take part in an expedition against the encroaching French. "They can do
no harm at Baccalaos," was the cold reply; "and so," adds the indignant
ambassador, "this King would say if they should come and take him here
at Lisbon; such is the softness they show here on the one hand, while,
on the other, they wish to give law to the whole world."

The five ships, occasions of this turmoil and alarm, had lain at St.
Malo waiting for cannon and munitions from Normandy and Champagne. They
waited in vain, and as the King's orders were stringent against delay,
it was resolved that Cartier should sail at once, leaving Roberval to
follow with additional ships when the expected supplies arrived.

On the twenty-third of May, 1541, the Breton captain again spread his
canvas for New France, and, passing in safety the tempestuous Atlantic,
the fog-banks of Newfoundland, the island rocks clouded with screaming
sea-fowl, and the forests breathing piny odors from the shore, cast
anchor again beneath the cliffs of Quebec. Canoes came out from shore
filled with feathered savages inquiring for their kidnapped chiefs.
"Donnacona," replied Cartier, "is dead;" but he added the politic
falsehood, that the others had married in France, and lived in state,
like great lords. The Indians pretended to be satisfied; but it was soon
apparent that they looked askance on the perfidious strangers.

Cartier pursued his course, sailed three leagues and a half up the St.
Lawren